Zeger Schaeken • Sunday October 15, 2023 at 8:30 PM
Fem van Empel has won the first Cyclo-cross World Cup in Waterloo. The world champion continued in the second round and rode solo to victory. Puck Pieterse and Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado were able to follow briefly, but soon had to settle for the other podium places.
The start of the first World Cup was a bit turbulent. A false start meant that the riders started their race a few minutes later. The second time the start went without any problems and it was Fem van Empel who took the holeshot. Puck Pieterse and Zoe Bäckstedt followed in her footsteps.
Shirin van Anrooij was the only top rider who missed her start. The Baloise Trek Lions rider, who said in advance that she had woken up sick, never returned to the race and gave up in the third round. For Van Anrooij it was the last cross before a long rest period.
Burden of errors for Pieterse, Van Empel solo
Pieterse and Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado got off to a good start. The two hooked up with Van Empel and entered the second round with a nice gap on the rest of the field. Van Empel continued to set a high pace, after which Dutch champion Pieterse made two mistakes and found himself behind. Van Empel did not hesitate, Alvarado had already been released and moved on.
The tension never returned. World champion Van Empel was clearly the strongest and only drove further away from the opposition. Ultimately, the Jumbo-Visma rider came in with a lead of 36 seconds over Pieterse. Alvarado was able to climb onto the podium for the second time this season, this time one step lower than in Beringen.
Waterloo World Cup results
1. Fem van Empel
2. Puck Pieterse at 36s
3. Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado at 1m51s
4. Maghalie Rochette op 2m4s
5. Zoe Bäckstedt on 2m22s
6. Manon Bakker at 2m33s
7. Clara Honsinger op 2m59s
8. Isabelle Holmgren at 3m15s
9. Leonie Bentveld on 3m49s
10. Caroline Mani op 4m13s
2023-10-15 18:30:00
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